Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1887-09-22

"IF YOU'VE TO TALK LIKE THAT, YOU'D
BETTER LOOK FOR SOME ONE ELSE
or not. 1 always like sailors; I've been
with them many a voyage, though
not much of a sailor myself; and I
don't want to offend an old salt like
YOU"
30, no ofense, your honor; you're
a nice-spoken gentleman" said Tom,
returning and pocketing the coin.
q ought to tell you." Crawford
continued, that Captain Willis was
my best friend. was with him on his
vessel when he was killed by the
mutineers, and nearly lost nay life in
trying to defend him. could show
you wounds clear through my chest,
not yet healed, that 1 got from the
knives of the mutineers that night"
The under-jaw of Mr.. Burt dropped
with surprise.
''Let me shake your hand, your
HONOR and he sawed that member up
and down in such vigorous pump
handle fashion that Crawford had to
remind him that he was not strong
enough yet for SO enthusiastic greet
ing.
swell, the Lord love your brave
young soul. I'm proud and happy to
see you and take you by the hand! What
can do for you or for the widow, or
her pretty darter?''
'.I'll tell you. Tom. You're the only
man I've got hold of here yet who
promises me any help; and 1 want to
tell you what will make you believe
that YOU and all the people here have
been frightened at shadows. Captain
Willis talked with me freely about that
house, and the stories of its being
haunted; but he did not believe a word
of it."
''Not believe it, sir! Why he told
them yarns himself, all over town.
'.He told me that, too; but he did
that for a certain purpose. l may tell
the people here what it was, some
day"
'Capt'n Willis not believe the house
was spooky!" the sailor repeated,
dwelling upon the incredible fact
"Why, he came back to it himself aft.
er he was dead! Mrs. Willis and her
da'ter saw him."
You're certainly wrong there, my
old friend. Both of them tell me that
they saw nothing of the kind
Tom Burt was staggered. He looked
from the speaker to the house, as
though expecting that the latter might
suddenly take wings and soar aloft.
The cherished decisions of himself and
his mates were one by one being mer-
cilessly destroyed by this unbeliever.
Still he would not yield.
"But them wimmen heard shoutins
that highland screechins-and hidg-
eous faffin-and pistolsr'
ITO be sure they did, Tom; and
know who made all that disturbance.
have fully satisfied both these ladies
that they were most cruelty and
brutally imposed upon by a black
hearted scoundrel, for his own GRIM
here next summer, as they may, We
shall probably have to make the whole
curious story public, so as to clear the
house of its bad name"
Tom stared at the speaker in blank
and hopeless incredulity.
1.-The fact seems to be-" Crawford
continued, "that houses are very much
like dogs in the proverb. Only give
one a bad name-and it will sticki
Everybody in Provincetown talks
about the Lobdell place being haunted;
but it's all rrmor and gossip. Nobody
has seen or heard any thing that de-
serves even to be examined"
That's where you're wrong, sir
wrong as wrong can ber'
Tom spoke up triumphantfy, and
dashed down his hat to emphasize the
assertion.
''What do you mean?"
go, I'll tell ye-Tn tell We, my young
sir; and then see if you'll be so pert an
clipper in laughin' at the things that's
been maxim the Provincet'n folks
creep! You want 20 know who's
heard or seen any thing from that old
house worth noticin'. Well, Ihave."
''Indeed?" queried Crawford, good
humoredly. ''Now, don't give me any
secondhand gossip, MIR. Burt. -
Il saw and heard it myself, 1 tell
you! Grooming and moaning like as
the fiend himself had holt of a man.
crying to the Lord to help it-whatever
it was-begging not to be let to die
and all sech! l Just tell you, young sir.
if you'd heard 'em, you'd shut up Oh
haunted houses, / reckon. -
Where did these noises seem to
come from?"
''From the cellar of the old part. (
got down to the ground and listened
by that sunk window there, where the
loose dirt has filled up nearly to tho
top of the SASH"
THE old cellarr' Crawford ex-
claimed, with sudden interest s.When
was this? See if you can fix the tims
exactly"
II reckon can. 1t was bout 'leyen
o'clock of the night of the day that tho
wimmin left the house."
(To BE CONTINUED